Prussia, Kingdom. A Pour-Le-Mérite, By Godet, C.1930

(Pour le Mérite). Instituted in June 1740 by Frederick II of Prussia. In gilded silver, presenting as a blue-enamelled Maltese cross, with four open beaked eagles between the cross arms, each carefully hand-etched and detailed and held solidly in their respective positions, the obverse centre with the crowned monogram F for Friedrich on the top cross arm and the name Pour le Mé- rite starting from the left cross arm to the right ending on the bottom arm, the reverse presents plain blue enamel, the blue enameling is solidly in place within the frame, the pie shaped ring loop is marked SILBER (SILVER) to indicate its composition, measuring 53.42 mm (w) x 54.70 mm (h), weighing 27.36 grams, on loop for suspension from partial period original neck ribbon, cross presents a small surface chip of the enamel in the centre of the reverse, and in overall extremely fine condition. Accompanied by an Authentication and Appraisal by Andreas M. Schulze Ising and Bernd Kruse, dated 1 December 2018.

Footnote: This example of the order shows all signs of the Godet design. Godet entered the fold of suppliers to the Prussian orders chancellery during the end of the First World War with the classic design. Mainly, the ribbon ring loop of all Godet designed examples is reminiscent of the Franco Prussian and earlier wars with its pie shape. Also, the eagles show a bolder design in comparison to those of competitors Wagner and Friedländer. This decoration does not show the silver content mark 938 and is therefore a piece from after 1918. The SILBER mark was commonly used during the German gold prohibition starting on 23 May 1923 and eclipsing in demanding the surrender of all precious metals and foreign currency on 23 August 1923. The enamel suggests manufacture during the 1930s-40s and is possibly a replacement for a lost example.